Kazmir Implodes on the Mound vs Angels Again
By Tony Frye
Scott Kazmir has a second consecutive breakdown against the Angels. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Angels swept this weekend’s four game series against the Athletics. Scott Kazmir was beat up for six runs in the second inning going 1.1 with 2 hits, 4 walks and 6 earned runs. This might sound very familiar since the last game recap I wrote for a Scott Kazmir start was for that little home game last Sunday where we all got unicorn backpacks and cried all the way home.
Falling to the Angels four nights in a row is an appropriate end to what has been a terribly frustrating August but the Athletics hope to turn it all around in September with some crucial members returning from the disabled list and this morning’s Adam Dunn Newest Athletic” href=”https://whitecleatbeat.com/2014/08/31/adam-dunn-newest-athletic/”>acquisition of Adam Dunn. The A’s find themselves five games behind the Angels in the American League West standings and the Angels have a grueling schedule of games before they meet the A’s again for their final three game series. Between now and then, the A’s need to even the season up and then take advantage of a tired Angels lineup if they want to have any chance of taking this division.
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I’m done looking at games ahead and games behind. We are in the home stretch now, it’s time to look at “magic numbers.” The Angels magic number is now sitting at 22 which means that if they win 22 more games or if the A’s lose 22 more games, the Angels take the division. It also means that if September ends up being a repeat of August and the A’s drop 17 games, the Angels only have to win 5. I hate the Angels but I’m pretty confident they’ll get 5 wins in September.
Sounds like team meeting going on right now in #Athletics clubhouse.
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) August 31, 2014
This is a pretty long closed-door meeting.
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) August 31, 2014
Tomorrow the A’s return home to take on the Mariners. This is a crucial series in terms of team morale and fan confidence so get out to the O.co and cheer on our boys in green and gold. I have nothing else to say today. The A’s lost game four 8-1 and there was virtually nothing positive on the field to speak of except for Josh Donaldson who was 2-4 today. Other than that, today sucked and we need to quickly put this month behind us.
Scott Kazmir needs to find his locations, Brandon Moss needs to start swinging an effective bat, Eric Sogard needs to go back to second base where he’s comfortable and our boys on the disabled list need to come back and produce those great games we enjoyed in the first half of the season.